Japan has confirmed that it will introduce an automatic facial recognition system for foreigners entering the country as part of anti-terrorism measures in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.The system will be installed at 156 ports and airports throughout the country and will be mandatory for all foreigners except children under 16, diplomats and specially permitted permanent residents, an immigration bureau official said on Monday.The new system compares the facial images of foreign nationals with those of suspected terrorists. If they match and those in question are deemed to be a threat, they would face measures including deportation, the bureau said.The move comes after authorities confirmed in September that the country was launching a trial of fingerprint-authenticated hotel and restaurant payments for tourists.On their arrival in Japan, a control group of tourists will be given the option of registering their fingerprints and linking these to credit cards at the airport.The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has said the service will initially trial at tourism spots in three areas – the Kanto area around Tokyo, the Kansai region in the west and Kyushu in the southwest.The government aims to appeal to overseas visitors ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.The Omotenashi (hospitality) platform using biometric identification technology is being developed by Dai Nippon Printing Co and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting.
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